Combination tool-box and gas-tank holder.



J. G. PERRIN. COMBINATION TOOL BOX AND GAS TANK HOLDER.

APPLICATION I'ILBD DBO. 18, 1910.

1 v 1 9 1 00 w 0 d e t m a P COLUMBIA- PLANDUIAPII (0., WASHINGTON, D- C.

UNITED; STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN G. PERRIN, OF PLAT'ISBURG, NEW YORK.

COMBINATION TOQIJ-BOX AN-D GAS-TANK HOLDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 16, 1910. Serial No. 597,662.

PatentedOct. 3, 1911.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN G. PERRIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Plattsburg, in the county of Clinton, in the 5 State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Combination Tool-Box and Gas-Tank Holders, of

which the following is a specification.

My invention relates particularly to combination holders for use in connection with automobiles and similar vehicles, wherein the greatest possible economy of space consistent with harmonious design is necessary, and one of the objects of the invention is to provide a combination holder which can be used with and as a part of the running board of the vehicle.

A further object of the invention is to provide means whereby the tool box and gas tank may be combined with the greatest possible economy of space and efiiciency of service.

The various other objects of the invention will be more fully set forth in the following description of one form of mechanism embodying my invention, which consists in the new and novel features of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 represents a plan view of a portion of a running board of a vehicle provided with my improved tool box and gas tank holder. Fig. 2 represents a side elevation of the same showing the holder broken away in part to more clearly disclose the construction. Fig. 3 represents an end view of the same. Fig. 1 represents a transverse section on the line 44 of Fig. 2.

The running board 1 of the vehicle may be of standard size and construction. The combination holder comprises a substantially rectangular upper portion above the running board and a semi-cylindrical bottom portion below the running board. The rectangular portion of the holder is dlvided into compartments 2 and 3 by means of a longitudinal partition 1. The upper compartment isclosed by a detachable cover 5 and forms the tool box.

The gas tank 6 is contained in the lower compartment and is positioned in a recess or opening 7 therefor, formed in the running board. The tank is supported by the semi-cylindrical bottom 8 forming a pan,

which is preferably hinged as at 9. to the running board. The pan 'is held in its closed position by any suitable means as by a pivoted hook 10 adapted to engage with a suitable flange 11 formed integral with or secured to the pan 8 and secured in place by means of the thumb nut 12 upon a bolt 14 depending from the running board.

The tank is held against lateral movement by the edges of the opening or recess 7 and is held snugly against vertical movement by the partition 4: and the hinged bottom or pan 8. If desired strips of felt or other suitable material may be placed around the tank to compensate for imperfect fitting and prevent rattling. The upper part of each of the conical end sections comprises a cover or hood 15 hinged to the end wall as at 16. The cover or hood is normally held in its closed position preferably by a ball and socket lock 17 which will hold the hood securely against rattling but will permit the same to be readily opened by sufficient force applied to a suitable latch or handle 18 which may be formed by an overlapping flange 19 .of the-hood. Suitable o enings 20 are provided through the end wa ls into the end compartments, so that access may be had to the gages and valves connected with the gas tank.

In order to remove or replace the gas tank the thumb nut 12 is loosened, which permits the catch 10 to be swung out of engagement with the bolt 14,. This permits the semicylindrical bottom pan to swing. downward on its hinges and the tank to be inspected, removed or replaced. The cover 5 affords means for gaining access to the compartment 2 which forms the tool box. The hoods 15 which form part of the conical ends of the holder, afl'ord convenient means permitting the gages and the valves connected with the gas tank to be inspected and operated merely by lifting the hoods.

By means of this construction an extremely compact arrangement of the gas tank and tool box is provided, which requires comparatively little more space than that occupied by the tool box alone, since the gas tank is partially below the running board, which is thus utilized to form part of a receptacle and hold the gas tank against displacement and protect same against injury. The end compartments not only serve the useful purpose of permitting inspection 110 of the valves and gages for the gas tank, but also permit the combined holder to be given a design in harmony with the general design of the vehicle.

The construction is inexpensive and simple in its arrangement, and permits the parts to be made of any desirable material such as sheet steel, which combines great strength and lightness. It is obvious, however, that any desired material may be employed and that various changes and modifications within the skill of the mechanic may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, provided the means set forth in the following claims be employed.

I claim as my invention:

1. The combination with the running board of a vehicle having an opening there in, of a pan fastened to said running board, a receptacle supported by said pan and p0- sitioned in the opening provided in the running board and held against movement in one direction thereby, and means secured to the top of the running board and inclosing said tank. 2. The combination with the running board of a vehicle having a recess provided therein, of a receptacle positioned in said recess, a tool box secured to the upper side of the running board and forming a cover for said receptacle and means for supporting said receptacle whereby a portion thereof will extend above the running board and the remaining portion thereof will extend below the running board.

3. The combination with the running board of a vehicle having a recess therein, of a cylindrical pan hinged to the bottom of the said running board, a gas tank supported by said pan and positioned in the said recess and extending above the running board, and a top for said tank secured to the running board and having a tool box formed therein.

4- The combination with the running board of a vehicle having a recess provided therein, of a pan hinged to said running board at one side thereof, detachable means secured to the opposite side of said running board for holding said pan in its closed position, a tank supported by said pan and positioned in said recess, yielding means between said tank and the sides of the recess in said runningeboard, a tool box secured to the upper side of said running board and forming a cover for said tank, and a hood hinged to the end wall of said tool box and detachably secured to the running board.

5. A combination with the running board of a vehicle having a recess provided therein, a gas tank positioned in said recess, a pan secured to the running board inclosing the bottom of said tank and a tool box arranged above the running board inclosing the top of said tank substantially as clescribed.

6. A combination tool box and gas tank holder comprising an upper rectangular portion and a lower cylindrical section, a longitudinal partition in said upper portion to form a tool box compartment and a gas tank compartment, a detachable cover for said tool box compartment, a gas tank in the lower compartment, and an end compartment communicating with the said gas tank compartment and a cover for said end compartment hinged to the end wall of the tool box.

This specification signed and witnessed this 12th day of Dec, A. D., 1910.

JOHN G. PERRIN.

Signed in the presence of- FRANK DIOKMAN, PETER TREIBER, Jr.

Copies of this patent may lie obtained. for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

